NHKニュースで学ぶ現代英語 2025年2月勉強分①
全国の酪農家数 1万下回る
< 見出し>JAPAN’S DAIRY FARMERS SLUMP BELOW 10,000
・dairy：酪農の、乳製品の
The number of dairy farmers in Japan has fallen to below 10,000 as higher feed costs erode income.
・erode：むしばむ、侵食する [iróud]
The Japan Dairy Council says that as of October this year, the ranks of dairy farmers have fallen almost 6 percent year-on-year.
・ranks：（共通の特徴を持つ人々の）集団
※この意味では複数形
・year-on-year：前年（同期）比で
※経済統計によく出てくる表現で、YoYやYOYなどと表記することもある。
The 9,960 total of such workers is the lowest since 2005, when the data started to be collected.
・The 数字 total of ～：～の総数◯◯
A council survey found almost 60 percent of these farmers were losing money on their operations.
・lose money on ～：～でお金を失う、赤字を出す
※cf. make money on ～：～でお金をもうける、利益を出す
The organization queried more than 230 operators in September about their business performance.
・query ～：～に質問する、尋ねる
The agriculture ministry has cited shrinking incomes as the reason for the decline.A survey conducted by the ministry shows production costs that dairy farmers paid in 2022 rose about 18 percent from the average for the preceding 10 years.
・preceding：先行する、その前の [prisíːdiŋ]
※ここでの「the preceding 10 years」は、現時点から数えた過去10年間ではなく、2022年から数えた過去10年。
Dairy farmer income shrank 60 percent compared with the 10-year average, even though revenue has remained flat.
The ministry is considering ways to pass on higher farming costs into the prices of dairy products.
【 豆知識：収入と所得の語彙 】
revenue「収入（売り上げ）」から、経費や税などを引いたのがincome（所得）。
参考：レアジョブ Conversation-Q(中級) My Job
米大統領 日本のUSスチール買収禁止
< 見出し>BIDEN BLOCKS BUYOUT BY NIPPON STEEL
・Nippon Steel’s 14-billion-dollar bid to buy U.S. Steel has been blocked by U.S. President Joe Biden.
・bid：試み、努力、企て、計画
The president cited concerns the deal could threaten U.S. national security.
Sources say Nippon Steel will take legal action in the U.S. against the decision.
Biden released a statement on Friday saying the two firms should drop the planned acquisition within 30 days.
He said there is credible evidence to believe Nippon Steel might take action that threatens to impair the national security of the United States.
・credible：信用できる、確かな
・impair：（価値や質などを）損なう、害する
The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States had previously reviewed the planned buyout and referred it to the president for a decision.
・Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States：「対米外国投資委員会（CFIUS）」
※アメリカの企業や事業などへの外国からの直接投資の安全保障上のリスクを審査するための、複数の省庁の代表で構成されるアメリカ政府の委員会
・refer：（問題の解決、判断などを）任せる
The two steelmakers said in a joint statement that they were dismayed by Biden’s decision.
・dismay：（人を）うろたえさせる、おびえさせる、がっかりさせる
They said that Biden’s order violates due process and the law governing the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States.
・due：当然の、正当な
・due process：（法律上などの）適正な手続き
・govern：（法律などが組織を）規制する、管理する
They also said it is shocking and deeply troubling that the U.S. government would treat an ally like Japan this way.
・ally：[ǽlai]
ベトナムのGDP 去年は7%超の成長
< 見出し>VIETNAM’S ECONOMY GROWS OVER 7% IN 2024
・Vietnam：[víetnɑ́m]
Vietnam’s government says the country’s economy grew a little over 7 percent last year.
That’s higher than the target of 6 to 6.5 percent.
The General Statistics Office released a report on Monday.
It says exports surged 14.3 percent year-on-year, led by shipments of electronics, smartphones, and clothing.
・surge：急増する ※豆知識参照
・year-on-year：前年比で、前年同期比で
Foreign investment inflows jumped 9.4 percent.
・inflow：流入
・jump：急増する ※豆知識参照
Vietnam is seen as an attractive alternative to China.
・alternative to ～：～に代わる
Foreign companies are offshoring there to reduce reliance on China under the so-called “China plus one” strategy.
・offshore：（生産や業務などの拠点を本国から）海外に移転する
Meanwhile, the buoyant U.S. economy has been good news for Vietnam, whose biggest export destination is America.
・buoyant：活気のある、元気な、上昇傾向の [bɔ́iənt]
※buoy「浮き、ブイ」の関連語で、沈まずに浮かび上がらせるイメージ。
But there is concern that incoming U.S. President Donald Trump will adopt protectionist policies, such as imposing tariffs, that could hurt Vietnam’s economy.
・incoming：次期の
・adopt：採用する
・protectionist：保護主義的な
・impose：課す [impóuz]
【 豆知識：「上がる」を表す単語２】
以前のまとめ 「豆知識：「上がる」の語彙」 の
・～ rise：～が上がる
・raise ～：～を上げる
・soar：急上昇する、急騰する
・escalate：比較的ゆっくりとした上昇
・surge：比較的ゆっくりとした上昇
・shoot up：急激な上昇
・skyrocket：急上昇する
・spike：急上昇する
・surge：急上昇する
に加え、
・leap：急上昇する
・climb：（量や価値が）増大する、上昇する
・jump：急増する
カナダ トルドー首相が辞意表明
< 見出し>CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER ANNOUNCES RESIGNATION
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he’s stepping down after facing calls to resign from within his own party.
・step down：辞任する、退陣する
※「台から降りる」というイメージで、自らの意志で退くというニュアンスを含む。
・call：要求
Trudeau said he’ll remain in his role until his ruling Liberal Party picks a new leader.
・remain in ～：～にとどまる
・ruling party：与党
“This country deserves a real choice in the next election, and it has become clear to me that if I’m having to fight internal battles, I cannot be the best option in that election.”
Canadians have become frustrated with inflation and rising housing prices, putting Trudeau under heavy pressure.
Trudeau has been in office nearly a decade.
・in office：公職に就いて、在職して、政権を握って
But his popularity has been dipping in recent years, as Canadians are upset about economic and political issues.
・dip：下がる、落ちる、沈む、浸る
・be upset about ～：～に怒っている、憤っている、～について動揺する
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is threatening to impose a stiff 25 percent tariff on Canadian goods.
・-elect：選出された、次期の、当選した
・president-elect：当選が確定している就任前の「次期大統領」
・stiff：（金額などが）法外な、不当に高い
Trudeau’s downfall quickly came after his finance minister abruptly resigned over how to deal with Trump’s policies and other disagreements.
・downfall：失墜、失脚、破綻、失敗の原因
・disagreement：意見の相違や対立、不一致
NY中心部に“渋滞税”導入
< 見出し>NEW YORK LAUNCHES FIRST-EVER CONGESTION TOLL IN U.S.
・congestion：渋滞 [kəndʒéstʃən]
New York City has launched a toll to reduce traffic congestion.
It’s the first such program in the United States.
Toll collection began on Sunday.
The toll aims to address the worsening traffic conditions in central Manhattan, which includes Times Square and Wall Street.
The average speed of vehicles has reportedly fallen to less than 12 kilometers per hour.
Under the new program, drivers will be charged 9 dollars during the day to enter the area.
The toll is automatically collected through sensors installed on roads.
“I think the congestion pricing probably is a good idea to try to limit the amount of traffic and encourage people to use more public transit.”
For taxi passengers, they’ll be required to pay 75 cents per trip.
“We’re gonna lose customers, so I don’t like it.”
The state of New York expects a 10-percent reduction in the number of vehicles entering the city center.
It says the revenue will be used to expand bus routes and other services.
【 豆知識：相手の後悔の弁を軽く流すフレーズ 】
相手の後悔の弁を軽く流したいときのフレーズ
“Oh, shoulda, coulda, woulda.”
「ああすればよかった、こうすればよかった、できたかもしれないのに」→「もうそんなことを言っても仕方ないよ」「後の祭りだよ」